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Display System That Knows Who You Are

lee1 writes "New Scientist reports on an 'interactive computer display that keeps track of multiple users by differentiating between their touch'. The system consists of a touch-sensitive screen that can be operated by several users simultaneously. When a user touches the screen an electrical signal is sent through their body and picked up by a receiver located in their chair, telling a computer precisely where the screen was touched and by whom. Applications could include system access control, safer vehicle controls, and smarter videogames. The bottom line, in the words of one of the inventors: 'If the controls know who is operating them, they can behave appropriately.' The movie even has funkier than average background music."

5 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Bad idea... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't think I want a screen that can scream to the rest of the office, "Oh, it's another dirty pervert looking at me again."

    1. Re:Bad idea... by Tackhead · · Score: 5, Funny
      > I don't think I want a screen that can scream to the rest of the office, "Oh, it's another dirty pervert looking at me again."

      "It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were telecommuting or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of bedroom eyes, a habit of muttering to yourself, anything that carried with it the suggestion of looking at b00bies, or having something to hide from HR. In any case, to sport wood at the office, was itself a punishable offense. There was even a word for it in Cubespeak: pantcrime."

      - Little Sister, 1985

  2. Keep your fingers off by 9mm+Censor · · Score: 5, Funny

    Awesome. I would love a monitor that tracks who puts there fingers on my screen. So I know who's fingers to break when the muck my display up.

  3. Wait until Sony gets a hold of this.... by ip_freely_2000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...instead of allowing anyone using the computer to see and hear their DRM content, they can charge everyone who sits at the same person for the privilege.

    Oy vey.

  4. Warning Stickers by TavisJohn · · Score: 4, Funny

    And I can see the warning stickers now... "Do not use if you have a pacemaker or other heart condition." "Do not use during a lighting storm." "Please disscharge all static before you sit down and use the monitor." "Do not handle other electronic devices while using monitor, Damage or miss ID could occor." "Do not lick chair." "Do not use while wet." "Do not plug into a 220v outlet." (Yes we know it would be funy, but we can not be held responsible for any unwanted "Cooking")